The Glendronach distillery invites whisky lovers to the ‘Valley of the Brambles’ for a unique sensory journey, exploring the intimate connection between taste and sound. Through a specially composed track that weaves authentic distillery sounds with evocative music, this project enhances the tasting experience of their Aged 12 Years single malt, revealing a harmonious interplay of craftsmanship, place, and flavour.
In the heart of the Scottish Highlands, nestled within the valley that lends the distillery its name, The Glendronach has long stood as a testament to tradition and craftsmanship. Next year, this revered distillery will mark its 200th anniversary—a bicentenary of dedication to time-honoured whisky making.
Yet, as much as this heritage is celebrated, The Glendronach continues to innovate, crafting new ways to experience their richly sherried Single Malts. The latest endeavour invites us to consider whisky not as a solitary sense—taste alone—but as an orchestrated interplay of senses. Their new project, ‘The Valley of the Brambles’, curated by Emmy-nominated composer Rob Lewis, explores the profound relationship between taste and sound, offering a groundbreaking multisensory journey.
Commissioned specifically at the distillery in Aberdeenshire, the track unfolds as an immersive soundscape. Its layers are derived from authentic sounds collected on site—the ambient rustle of the valley, birdsong caught within the dunnage warehouse, the gentle clatter of gravel beneathfoot, and even the resonant pulses of the saxophone stills themselves.
These elements are woven meticulously into a composition that mirrors the rhythm and character of the whisky itself, culminating in a crescendo evocative of the dram’s own ‘sherry crescendo’—a phrase coined by Master Blender Dr Rachel Barrie.
Dr Barrie, whose expertise has helped shape the expressive depth of The Glendronach Aged 12 Years, describes this whisky as a symphony of flavour. “The taste profile unfolds through rich layers of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks,” she explains. “It’s a dialogue between Scotland and Spain—robust Highland spirit softened and enriched by Andalusian warmth and complexity. The music Rob has created captures this narrative beautifully, delivering a perfect accompaniment that heightens the experience of tasting this remarkable whisky.”
Rob Lewis’s composition is a deliberate reflection of this spirit. It opens with the softest ambient textures—a sonic portrait of The Glendronach’s surroundings—and gradually introduces cello melodies that echo the warmth and complexity unveiled in each sip. About one-third into the piece, a subtle bolero rhythm emerges, a respectful nod to the Spanish sherry casks that play such an essential role in shaping the whisky’s flavour profile. It is not a mimicry but rather a soulful homage, a delicate bridge across geography and tradition.
Lewis shares, “Every sound you hear was captured at the distillery itself. I wanted listeners not only to hear but to almost feel the whisky’s journey—the texture of the gravel, the reverberations within the warehouse, the slow breathing of the spirit as it matures in its casks. These found sounds form the backbone of the percussion and are layered with the cello to evoke touch as well as hearing.”
The idea that sound can profoundly influence taste is not new but is gaining increasing recognition under the umbrella of ‘sonic seasoning’. Professor Charles Spence, a leading gastrophysicist at the University of Oxford, has been instrumental in advancing this field.
He explains, “Our tasting experiences are multisensory by nature. The brain integrates auditory input with taste and smell to create the rich experience we know as flavour. Sonic seasoning plays with this integration, using sound to accentuate certain taste notes, enhancing sweetness, bitterness or acidity within a dish or dram. ‘The Valley of Brambles’ is a notable example of bespoke music that evolves in tandem with the dynamics of a complex whisky tasting.”
Spence’s research draws on experiments where particular pieces of music, such as Pavarotti’s operatic notes or the soothing chords of Tubular Bells, have been shown to modulate perceptions of bitterness and sweetness, respectively. However, The Glendronach’s collaboration widens this concept by incorporating ambient environmental sounds, deftly blending auditory textures with physical place to enrich the sensory dialogue. This layering engages listeners in a unique form of synaesthesia—a blending of senses that heightens perception not just of taste but also texture and atmosphere.
Such synaesthetic experiences are grounded in cognitive neuroscience. Studies show that areas of the brain processing flavour also respond to auditory stimuli, which primes the palate and amplifies flavour sensations. What one hears can alter the experience of tasting, creating a richer, more memorable sensory moment. The ambient sounds of the distillery valley and the carefully chosen musical phrases act as psychoacoustic enhancers, shaping expectations and deepening appreciation.
This profound connection between taste and sound also has practical implications for how whisky is enjoyed. The timing of the piece mirrors the whisky tasting progression—from initial anticipation as the dram is observed and inhaled, through the gradual unfolding of flavours on the palate, to the reflective aftertaste where warmth lingers long after the last note fades
Each musical phrase corresponds to a tasting phase—the bright cello melody that opens the dram, the mellow harmonies as flavours deepen, and the final crescendo that communicates mastery, patience, and artistry.
The Glendronach’s track is not simply background music; it is a guiding companion to the tasting journey, inviting drinkers to listen and savour with equal attention. It honours the timeless craftsmanship behind the whisky while enriching the emotional and sensory experience—a celebration of place, process and passion.
As Dr Barrie says, “This isn’t a dram to be rushed. It’s a reflective, intimate experience that deserves a soundtrack equally considered. Rob’s ‘Valley of the Brambles’ communicates the spirit’s soul through sound, making every sip feel more alive, more textured, and more rewarding.”
‘Valley of the Brambles’ is available on Spotify, with a behind-the-scenes film on YouTube that chronicles the music’s creation alongside glimpses of the distillery’s evocative surroundings. Together, they offer a holistic sensory experience born of dedication to heritage, innovation and integrity — values that have defined The Glendronach for two centuries and counting.
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